Are there any of these they are familiar with? Anyone follow the getting things done mantra?

Going to go through some basic tips first. If you remember anything remember these. Then look at GTD and some of the major recommendations from GTD

- Write down thoughts asap in one place (container). Don’t keep things in your head

To dos need to be actionable (ie they explain to you what you need to do) Going back to your to do list and not remember what it means? This is the problem. You&apos;re to do list is no good if constantly have to remind yourself what things on it mean Give you an example.

WTF? Mom?

Find someone who can help you stay on track – ongoing projects or basic time management

Biggest killer is thinking you know how much time it takes to do something and realizing you are wrong Track time for things you do often: how long does it take you to prep a class; research/write a paper; read a certain number of pages? Helps to realistically set aside time on your calendar I know it takes me about two hours to prepare for a class  I need at least two hours on my calendar of time to prep fully Pomodoro technique Another side is dealing with distractions Pomodoro is focused on using 20/25 min of time to focus on particular tasks Set a timer to 25 minutes and work solidly for 25 minutes Take 5 minute break and return to 25 minutes Don’t switch tasks gets a bit more OCD but the general principle is good

Everyone is bad at real multitasking (unless it is eating chips and watching the colbert report) Avoid multitasking like the plague Finish a task before you move on If too difficult because of attention, set a timer and work for 10 minutes on ONE thing and then switch to another If you have a job where you are interuptable, then set aside times when you know you are less likely to have interruptions and use them efficiently Mornings are the only work times for us in reference Negotiate with your co-workers to have quiet times If all else fails, bookmark and get back to it ASAP after the interruption Emails and phones (unless you are on a desk) are for morning, noon, and closing Don’t keep your email open and don’t answer your phone if you are working on a project (unless you are the person who is designated to answer the office phone)